God created us as human beings with physical bodies that have the natural ability to heal themselves and overcome adversity, pain, and even trauma. Seeing everything, including the body’s experience of its surroundings, as coming from a merciful God brings new revelation about God’s guidance in our lives. This book aims to restore a holistic view of human beings as embodied divine beings.
Author Alisa Keaton was a professional fitness coach for over 30 years before founding her Christian wellness ministry. She reflects on how family trauma shaped her career pursuits. As a young woman who was actively pursuing fitness but “desperately in need of wisdom about her body,” she missed many opportunities to truly understand what it meant to be embodied in God’s truth and healing power. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Know ye not that your bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost, which ye have of God?” She embraced the truth that we are called to honor God with our bodies rather than live “broken lives.” “The bodies God has given us help us metabolize not only food but also mental and emotional pain,” she writes.
Reading this book, I realized that we have left out many important things from theology and spiritual practice. Take human emotions, for example. Unprocessed emotional pain may be suppressed for a time, but the energy cannot be destroyed. It often alters our ego or is passed on to someone else. The body “keeps the score” because it is the instrument through which God’s work is accomplished. When we work with our bodies to understand this complex dynamic, we can move from simply surviving to thriving.
In this broken world, God intended for us to live a “life of tension.” Feelings and sensations are important because they help us know where we are “in relationship with God’s presence and peace at any given time.” One easy, actionable way to do this is to focus on your breath. It’s no coincidence that in the Bible, “spirit” and “breath” share the same Greek word, “pneuma.” Too often, we think about God in our minds, but forget that “the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). The author writes, “God is with you and for you, as close as your breath. … When you remember to breathe with purpose, you give the Holy Spirit a fighting chance to keep you free by remembering the One who gives you breath.”
The book also argues that kindness and self-compassion are like “basic vitamins” to our existence. When we handle emotional pain with a self-compassionate attitude, we are giving ourselves the “mind of Christ.” God’s presence is the reason we are never alone in adversity. His very presence helps. Sometimes we just need to cling to the promise of His presence and wait on Him for extra strength.
There are 24 short chapters divided into three sections. Each chapter introduces the experiences of the author and other Christians who have engaged in the path of wisdom for the human body. Each chapter ends with guided questions and prayers, making this book a great discussion resource for small groups who welcome conversations about trauma and physical healing. (Tyndale Refresh)
